Vietnam-Japan growing ties - inevitable process

The process of transforming their growing relations to strategic cooperative ties is inevitable to Japan and Vietnam, said Yasuaki Tanizaki, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam.

Cultural similarities and a respect for each other are the foundations for the two countries increased ties in recent years, he said.

Tanizaki told Vietnam News Agency of the plans to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties in 2013.

The diplomat was assigned by the Japanese Government to lead the Organising Board of the 2013 Japan-Vietnam Friendship Year.

He said the events proposed for the friendship year, which include friendly football matches, fashion shows and food festivals, will target young people, given that they are essential to preserving and promoting the two countries’ growing ties.

The events will illustrate Japanese people’s gratitude to Vietnamese people’s support and sympathy after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011, Tanizaki said.

He reviewed the two countries’ cooperation in the last four decades, highlighting two-way trade of over 21 billion USD in 2011 and 11.7 billion USD in the first half of 2012.

Japan is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with registered capital investment of over 27 billion USD, including 4 billion USD from the first half of 2012. Japan is expected to further invest in Vietnam in the future.

Japan has been Vietnam’s largest ODA provider for years, pledging to support Vietnam’s industrialisation and modernisation leading up to 2020. In the 2011 fiscal year, it made a record ODA pledge of over 208 billion JPY (2.5 billion USD).

Japan’s ODA has been used to build infrastructure, develop human resources, restructure State-owned enterprises, deal with natural disaster and climate change, and assist social programmes.

Breakthrough needed in theoretical work

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held a working session with the Standing Board of the Theory Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee in Hanoi on December 31.

According to its report, the Council’s reformed operation this year yielded important fruits. It provided consultation to the Party Central Committee and the Politburo in ten areas to assist the issuance of guidelines, resolutions and conclusions.

It also actively worked with ministries, departments and research institutes to provide consultative reports to the Party Central Committee.

In 2013, the Council will focus on improving the quality of consultation, appraisal and major reports, and continue reforming the operation of the Standing Board and its sub-committees. It will also continue to boost international cooperation in theory and increase the effectiveness of the ideological and theoretical struggle.

The Party leader agreed with the Council’s 2013 working plan and suggested orientations for the work in the Party’s 11th tenure.

The Council was requested to grasp new opportunities and point out challenges the country will face in its revolutionary cause.

Vietnam-Laos friendship further highlighted

A Vietnam-Laos friendship exchange programme was held in the northern province of Ninh Binh in a bid to continuously consolidate and further strengthen the traditional relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighbours.

Prominent among the participants were Hoang Binh Quan, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, head of its External Relations Commission; Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who is also a Politburo member, Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission; and Bui Van Nam, member of the CPV Central Committee, Ninh Binh province’s Party committee secretary.

The three-day event which wrapped up on December 31 offered a special platform for the two sides to swap experience on implementing the Party-to-Party and people-to-people diplomacy.

NA Chairman meets Bac Kan ethnic minority voters

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with ethnic minority voters from Quang Thuan commune in Bach Thong district, that are amongst the most disadvantaged communities in Bac Kan northern province on Sunday.

People in Quang Thuan Commune subsist on agricultural and forestry production. An individual earns on average VND16 million per year from growing fruit trees.

Hung asked the Party Committee, authorities and people of Quang Thuan Commune to make full use of their natural advantages to develop farming and husbandry.

They should also improve the effectiveness of national programme 135 to reduce poverty, and apply advanced technology in farming and husbandry to enhance the quality of products, he said.

He suggested leaders of the commune concentrate on building the Party, at the same time create better conditions for young people to access education, as well as look for resources to improve infrastructure and the transport system.

Earlier, Chairman Hung visited and presented gifts to people in the commune's Phieng An 2 village.

Public Security Minister gets promotion

The Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Tran Dai Quang, has got promoted to the rank of General.

State President Truong Tan Sang attended the promotion ceremony in Hanoi on December 29 and presented the promotion decision to the Minister, who is also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The President said the Party, State and people recognise the contributions that General Quang has made to the cause of protecting national security and social order and safety.

He praised the General for his determination and efforts to overcome all difficulties and fulfill all tasks assigned to him.

General Quang pledged to continue doing his best to serve the fatherland and the nation.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA